[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 65 (Tuesday, April 5, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19701-19704]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-07171]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0033676; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Inventory Completion: Nebraska State Historical Society 
DBA History Nebraska, Lincoln, NE

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: History Nebraska has completed an inventory of human remains 
and associated funerary objects, in consultation with the appropriate 
Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, and has determined that 
there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and 
associated funerary objects and present-day Indian Tribes or Native 
Hawaiian organizations. Lineal descendants or representatives of any 
Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this 
notice that wish to request transfer of control of these human remains 
and associated funerary objects should submit a written request to 
History Nebraska. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of 
control of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the 
lineal descendants, Indian Tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations 
stated in this notice may proceed.

DATES: Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian Tribe or 
Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to 
request transfer of control of these human remains and associated 
funerary objects should submit a written request with information in 
support of the request to History Nebraska at the address in this 
notice by May 5, 2022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Williams, State Archeologist, 
History Nebraska, 5050 North 32nd Street, Lincoln, NE 68504, telephone 
(402) 219-2759, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is here given in accordance with the 
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 25 
U.S.C. 3003, of the completion of an inventory of human remains and 
associated funerary objects under the control of History Nebraska, 
Lincoln, NE. The human remains and associated funerary objects were 
removed from Antelope County, Boone County, Cass County, Cedar County, 
Cherry County, Custer County, Dixon County, Frontier County, Gage 
County, Harlan County, Lancaster County, Nance County, Nemaha County, 
Platte County, Stanton County, Washington County, and two unknown 
counties in NE.
    This notice is published as part of the National Park Service's 
administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003(d)(3). The 
determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the 
museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of the Native 
American human remains and associated funerary objects. The National 
Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.

[[Page 19702]]

Consultation

    A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by History 
Nebraska professional staff in consultation with representatives of the 
Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska; Omaha Tribe of Nebraska; Otoe-
Missouria Tribe of Indians, Oklahoma; Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma; Ponca 
Tribe of Nebraska; Santee Sioux Nation, Nebraska; Three Affiliated 
Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation, North Dakota; and the 
Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska.
    The following Indian Tribes were invited to consult but did not 
participate: Apache Tribe of Oklahoma; Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of 
the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Montana; Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, 
Oklahoma [previously listed as Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma]; 
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of the Cheyenne River Reservation, South 
Dakota; Comanche Nation, Oklahoma; Crow Creek Sioux Tribe of the Crow 
Creek Reservation, South Dakota; Crow Tribe of Montana; Delaware 
Nation, Oklahoma; Delaware Tribe of Indians; Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma; 
Kaw Nation, Oklahoma; Kickapoo Tribe of Indians of the Kickapoo 
Reservation in Kansas; Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma; Kiowa Indian Tribe 
of Oklahoma; Lower Brule Sioux Tribe of the Lower Brule Reservation, 
South Dakota; Northern Arapaho Tribe of the Wind River Reservation, 
Wyoming [previously listed as Arapaho Tribe of the Wind River 
Reservation, Wyoming]; Northern Cheyenne Tribe of the Northern Cheyenne 
Indian Reservation, Montana; Oglala Sioux Tribe [previously listed as 
Oglala Sioux Tribe of the Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota]; Ponca 
Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma; Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation 
[previously listed as Prairie Band of Potawatomi Nation, Kansas]; 
Rosebud Sioux Tribe of the Rosebud Indian Reservation, South Dakota; 
Sac & Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska; Sac & Fox Nation, 
Oklahoma; Sac & Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa; Sisseton-Wahpeton 
Oyate of the Lake Traverse Reservation, South Dakota; Spirit Lake 
Tribe, North Dakota; Standing Rock Sioux Tribe of North & South Dakota; 
Wichita and Affiliated Tribes (Wichita, Keechi, Waco, & Tawakonie), 
Oklahoma; and the Yankton Sioux Tribe of South Dakota.
    Hereafter, all the Indian Tribes listed in this section are 
referred to as ``The Tribes.''

History and Description of the Remains

    In June of 2021, human remains representing, at minimum, two 
individuals were removed from archeological site 25AP108 in Antelope 
County, NE. The human remains were discovered during housing 
construction. Pursuant to state law, the Nebraska State Patrol turned 
these remains over to History Nebraska to determine whether they were 
of forensic interest. Examination by a physical anthropologist 
determined the human remains to be Native American and not of forensic 
interest. The human remains belong to two adult males. No known 
individuals were identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    In the spring of 2019, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from Boone County, NE. The human remains were 
exposed in a stream during a flood event. Pursuant to state law, the 
Boone County Sherriff's Office turned these human remains over to 
History Nebraska to determine whether they were of forensic interest. 
Examination by a physical anthropologist determined the human remains 
to be Native American and not of forensic interest. The human remains 
belong to an adult male. No known individual was identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    In August of 2020, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from Boone County, NE. The human remains were 
exposed in a stream during an erosional event. Pursuant to state law, 
the Boone County Sherriff's Office turned these human remains over to 
History Nebraska to determine whether they were of forensic interest. 
Examination by a physical anthropologist determined the human remains 
to be Native American and not of forensic interest. The human remains 
belong to an adult female. No known individual was identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1949, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from site 25CC55, in Cass County, NE, by History Nebraska 
following disturbance from topsoil removal for limestone quarrying. The 
age and sex of the individual are indeterminate. No known individual 
was identified. The one associated funerary object is a mussel shell 
bead.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed found at an unknown location in Cass County, 
NE, by a Mr. Kunkel, who later donated the human remains to History 
Nebraska. No known individual was identified. The one associated 
funerary object is a ceramic body sherd.
    Sometime between 1958 and 1969, human remains representing, at 
minimum, eight individuals, were removed from site 25CD22, in Cedar 
County, NE. The human remains were excavated by the property owner and 
the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Sometime in the 1970s, the human 
remains were sent to the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of 
Natural History for study. In November of 2021, following a request by 
staff at the Smithsonian, these human remains were transferred to 
History Nebraska for curation/disposition. The human remains belong to 
one juvenile male, four adult males, and three adult females. No known 
individuals were identified. The 62 associated funerary objects are two 
mussel shell fragments, one complete mussel shell, 14 fire-cracked 
rocks/pebbles, two ceramic body sherds, three stone endscrapers, nine 
pieces of stone flaking debris, 30 mammal bones, and one bird bone.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from Cherry County, NE, by managers of a ranch. 
In July of 2018, the human remains were donated to History Nebraska. 
Examination by a physical anthropologist determined the human remains 
to be Native American and not of forensic interest. The age and sex of 
the individual cannot be determined. No known individual was 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    In 1925, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from a location west of Broken Bow in Custer County, NE, 
by Dr. G.E. Pennington. In 1962, Dr. Pennington donated the human 
remains to History Nebraska. Examination by a physical anthropologist 
determined the human remains to be Native American and not of forensic 
interest. The human remains belong to an adult of indeterminate sex. No 
known individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from near Maskell in Dixon County, NE, and 
later donated to History Nebraska. Examination by a physical 
anthropologist determined the human remains to be Native American and 
not of forensic interest. The human remains belong to one adult of 
indeterminate sex. No known individual was identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, one

[[Page 19703]]

individual were removed from Section 31 T5N R 25W in Frontier County, 
NE, and later donated to History Nebraska. Examination by a physical 
anthropologist determined the human remains to be Native American and 
not of forensic interest. The human remains belong to an adult male. No 
known individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from an unknown location along the Blue River 
in Gage County, NE. The human remains were later donated by the Gage 
County Sherriff to History Nebraska. Examination by a physical 
anthropologist determined the human remains to be Native American and 
not of forensic interest. The human remains belong to an adult of 
indeterminate sex. No known individual was identified. No associated 
funerary objects are present.
    At an unknown date, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from an unknown location near the town of 
Orleans in Harlan County, NE. In 2021, the human remains were donated 
to History Nebraska. Examination by a physical anthropologist 
determined the human remains to be Native American and not of forensic 
interest. The age and sex of the individual cannot be determined. No 
known individual was identified. The 65 associated funerary objects 
include three pieces of turquoise or amazonite, one mussel shell bead, 
one fragment of mica, and 60 small rocks or chipped stone flakes.
    In the spring of 1935, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from the Schrader site (25LC1) in Lancaster 
County, NE, by History Nebraska during excavations sponsored by the 
Works Progress Administration (WPA). Examination by a physical 
anthropologist determined the human remains to be Native American and 
not of forensic interest. The age and sex of the individual cannot be 
determined. No known individual was identified. No associated funerary 
objects are present.
    In 2019, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual 
were removed from Nance County, NE. The human remains were exposed in a 
stream during a flood event. Pursuant to state law, the Nance County 
Sherriff's Office turned over these remains to History Nebraska to 
determine if they were of forensic interest. Examination by a physical 
anthropologist determined the human remains to be Native American and 
not of forensic interest. The human remains belong to an adult female. 
No known individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    In May of 2021, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from site 25NC165 in Nance County, NE. The 
human remains were discovered eroding from a stream bank. Pursuant to 
state law, the Nance County Sherriff's Office turned over these remains 
to History Nebraska to determine if they were of forensic interest. 
Examination by a physical anthropologist determined the human remains 
to be Native American and not of forensic interest. The human remains 
belong to an adult female. No known individual was identified. The 
seven associated funerary objects are three ceramic body sherds, one 
elk metapodial hide flesher, one bison horn core, one iron fragment, 
and one piece of ochre.
    Sometime in the 1950s, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from along the Missouri River in Nemaha County, 
NE. In the spring of 2021, a physical anthropologist at the University 
of Nebraska-Lincoln analyzed these human remains. Subsequently, the 
human remains were turned over to History Nebraska for disposition. The 
human remains belong to a female of indeterminate age. No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    In the spring of 2020, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from a private residence in Platte County, NE. 
Pursuant to state law, the Platte County Sherriff's Office turned over 
these human remains to History Nebraska to determine if they were of 
forensic interest. Examination by a physical anthropologist determined 
the human remains to be Native American and not of forensic interest. 
The human remains belong to an adult female. No known individual was 
identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    On March 26, 2019, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from an unknown location in Stanton County, NE. 
The human remains were found along a riverbank following a flood event. 
Pursuant to state law, the Stanton County Sherriff's Office turned over 
these human remains to History Nebraska to determine if they were of 
forensic interest. Examination by a physical anthropologist determined 
the human remains to be Native American and not of forensic interest. 
The human remains belong to an adult of indeterminate sex. No known 
individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are present.
    On April 27, 2019, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from an Elkhorn River bank following a flood 
event in Stanton County, NE. Pursuant to state law, the Stanton County 
Sherriff's Office turned over these human remains to History Nebraska 
to determine if they were of forensic interest. Examination by a 
physical anthropologist determined the human remains to be Native 
American and not of forensic interest. The human remains belong to an 
adult of indeterminate sex. No known individual was identified. No 
associated funerary objects are present.
    In the spring of 2019, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were removed from an unknown location in Washington County, 
NE. Pursuant to state law, the Washington County Sherriff's Office 
turned over these remains to History Nebraska to determine if they were 
of forensic interest. Examination by a physical anthropologist 
determined the human remains to be Native American and not of forensic 
interest. The human remains belong to an adult of indeterminate sex. No 
known individual was identified. No associated funerary objects are 
present.
    In 1996, human remains representing, at minimum, one individual, 
were removed from an unknown location in NE. The human remains were 
transferred anonymously from New York state to History Nebraska 
together with a note indicating they had been removed from Nebraska. 
Examination by a physical anthropologist determined the human remains 
to be Native American and not of forensic interest. The human remains 
belong to a child of indeterminate sex. No known individual was 
identified. The three associated funerary objects are two copper alloy 
bracelets and one string of glass beads of various colors.
    In the 1950s, human remains representing, at minimum, one 
individual were discovered and removed during drilling at an unknown 
location in western NE. In the spring of 2021, a physical 
anthropologist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln analyzed these 
human remains. Subsequently, the human remains were turned over to 
History Nebraska for disposition. The human remains belong to a Native 
American male of indeterminate age. No known individual was identified. 
The one associated funerary object is a pair of wire spectacles.
    All the human remains listed in this notice were determined to be 
Native American based on archeological context, burial patterns, 
osteology, and

[[Page 19704]]

associated diagnostic artifacts. Based on oral tradition and 
archeological evidence, History Nebraska has determined there is a 
relationship of shared group identity that can be reasonably traced 
between the human remains and associated funerary objects listed in 
this notice and The Tribes.

Determinations Made by History Nebraska

    Officials of History Nebraska have determined that:
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described 
in this notice represent the physical remains of 30 individuals of 
Native American ancestry.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the 140 objects 
described in this notice are reasonably believed to have been placed 
with or near individual human remains at the time of death or later as 
part of the death rite or ceremony.
     Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of 
shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the Native 
American human remains and associated funerary objects and The Tribes.

Additional Requestors and Disposition

    Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian Tribe or Native 
Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to 
request transfer of control of these human remains and associated 
funerary objects should submit a written request with information in 
support of the request to Dave Williams. State Archeologist, History 
Nebraska, 5050 North 32nd Street, Lincoln, NE 68504, telephone (402) 
219-2759, email [email protected], by May 5, 2022. After that 
date, if no additional requestors have come forward, transfer of 
control of the human remains and associated funerary objects to The 
Tribes may proceed.
    History Nebraska is responsible for notifying The Tribes that this 
notice has been published.

    Dated: March 30, 2022.
Melanie O'Brien,
Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2022-07171 Filed 4-4-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P